Mumbai: Discovery on Friday announced the commission of "The Men Who Sold the World Cup," a compelling two-part film from critically acclaimed directors Daniel DiMauro and Morgan Pehme ("Get Me Roger Stone," "The Swamp"). The film is based on the definitive story of how football’s biggest competition was sold to the highest bidders.
Made in partnership with award-winning producers Story Films and Calliope Pictures, "The Men Who Sold the World Cup" will premiere exclusively on discovery+ on 24 October.
The awarding of the World Cup to countries around the world was rumoured to have been infested with bribery, corruption, global politics, backroom deals, and greed. It all came to a head when the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar - a desert nation with baking summer temperatures, zero world-class stadiums, a population mostly indifferent to soccer, and lots of money, said the platform in a statement.
With exclusive interviews from those right at the heart of the story, the documentary reveals the stranger-than-fiction truth behind how the world’s biggest sporting event was sold by some of international football’s most senior officials and how they were eventually evicted from their seats of power and luxury lifestyles, it added.
With unique testimonials lifting the lid on the story, viewers are taken inside FIFA during the era of Sepp Blatter, the infamous ex-president who presided over world Football for decades. This was a world where, for some, normal rules didn't apply and bribery and embezzlement were part of the business.
The film features a cast of outrageous characters including US soccer bigwig, Chuck Blazer, and Qatari deal-maker, Mohamed Bin Hammam. Contributors include a whistle-blower from the Qatari bid team, Blatter's former Press chief, soccer greats including Jurgen Klinsmann and Landon Donovan, and Sepp Blatter himself.
The first episode showcases Sunday Times investigators Heidi Blake and Jonathan Calvert and follows their incredible investigation and scoop of the century that revealed rampant corruption at the heart of FIFA. The second features FBI and IRS investigators who exposed criminal behaviour at the heart of an organisation with a structure they likened to The Mob.
The show was ordered by Discovery Group's VP content & acquisitions EMEA and APAC Myriam Lopez-Otazu; SVP marketing, head of factual & sport Simon Downing, and VP original content - factual Victoria Noble. Executive producers for Story Films are David Nath, Peter Beard, and Jeremy Phillips at Discovery.
